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Hattricks in either half by forwards Suman Sarkar and Delbert Fernandes were the major highlights of yet another scintillating display by the AIFF Regional Academy, Navi Mumbai in the second round of League matches in the 13th Chandigarh Administrator’s Challenge Cup against DAV School, Chandigarh.
With the winners of each group advancing into the tournament semifinals, the Academy boys were on the offensive right from kick-off and kept piling on the pressure over the ninety minutes.
The deadlock was broken by Rakesh Oram’s close range header off a corner in the 13th minute, followed shortly by a pair of sublime strikes by midfielder Bidyananda Singh, first off a free-kick which was expertly curled over the wall and into the top corner of the goal in the 20th minute followed by a thunderous strike from thirty yards barely a minute later.
In-form winger Suman Sarkar, who had scored consecutively in the last five games for the AIFF Regional Academy, recorded his hattrick with goals in the 24th, 41st and 50th minutes with clinical strikes. Reacting quickest inside a crowded penalty area to net his first, Suman followed it up with well-placed finishes in one-on-one situations with the goalkeeper either side of the half-time break.
Super-sub Delbert Fernandes scored within minutes of coming on in the 62nd minute, finding himself at the right place at the right time to convert off Rakesh’s cross from the right wing before doubling his tally in the 67th minute. Winger Prasant K. made it 7-0 in the 85th minute before Delbert recorded his hattrick in fine style, dribbling past a host of defenders before unleashing a low strike into the bottom corner of the net.
The win consolidates the AIFF Regional Academy’s place at the top of the group standings with two wins out of two and a goal difference of +17. The team takes on Dalbir Football Academy of Punjab in their final game on September 26 at the Chandigarh Academy Ground.
